Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur returns for Season Two, exploring themes of identity, friendship, and PTSD. 

Created by the legendary Lawrence Fishburne, the series follows 13-year-old scientific genius Lunella, who, along with her fashionista best friend Casey, becomes the superhero Moon Girl, naming her partner in crime “Devil Dinosaur” to save her Lower East Side neighborhood from danger.

Season 2 continues the storyline from the conclusion of Season 1. Moon Girl, discovering her grandmother’s secret past as the first Moon Girl and a scientist, bravely dives into an intergalactic portal to save her friends and family. Episode 1, titled “The Great Beyond-er,” unfolds as Lunella encounters Beyond-er, and both find themselves stranded on an alien planet, navigating the challenge of returning to Earth.

In my initial experience with Moon Girl, it’s evident from the start that the show is remarkably educational and sophisticated. In a specific episode, the challenge is to return home to Planet Earth. Moon Girl explains to Beyond-er that a ship propelled by negative mass, essentially a super-fast ship, is needed for the journey. The show’s capacity to educate young viewers, allowing them to share engaging “fun facts” with their parents or guardians, adds significant value—a quality shared with successful programs like Nick’s Dora The Explorer.

Episode 1 concludes with Moon Girl successfully returning home, yet a noticeable transformation unfolds. Lunella now grapples with the consequences of embracing superhero life, echoing the experiences of Marvel’s young heroes, such as Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. The burden of hiding her superhero identity from family, the onset of hand shakes, and haunting flashbacks of battled villains paint a nuanced portrayal. Personally appreciating the introduction of complex themes in children’s TV shows, Moon Girl resonates with the multifaceted narratives that evoke memories of my millennial childhood.

Episode highlights include “Suit Up,” tackling the need for a new superhero suit, “Belly of The Beast,” emphasizing friendship, and “Kid Kree,” exploring the dynamics of a first crush.

Grammy winner Raphael Saadiq produces 12 new songs for Season 2, featuring guest stars Cynthia Erivo, Arsenio Hall, Jackée Harry, and Robin Thede. 

This season of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur airs February 2nd @ 8 PM EST on Disney Channel and Disney XD featuring two episodes. The first 14 episodes will be available the next day on Disney+.  Season 1 is currently streaming.